The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-11-16
Ispeclal Correspondence. J

Special Correspondence
ro..nox oct 3i-SpurEeon leave the Bap-
fist churchl II Wesley had renounced Meth-
odisrn or Brigham Young discarded Mormon
ism the surprise and the consequences couid
not have been greater. To most Americans
Spurgeon has these twenty years been more
than mere name. What Beecher has been
10 America Sturgeon has been to England
with these notable differences; Beecher
broadened his theology, Spurgcon narrowed
his. Reecher cultivated oratory as a fine art
STURGEON abhors art aud is eloquent In spite
of himself. Beecher preached 70 congrega-
tions Of 300, Spurgeon TO never fewer than
5000 twice each Sunday
We are not now concerned with the thee
lorian. boyCud noting tho extraordinary TACT
that the most famous living Baptist preacher
gives up his Baptist creed and practice for
fbat of the Prosbyterians, solely because tho
| latter hold the rigid tenets of Calvinism
which the Baptists are giving up We pro
uoso 20 portray Sturgeon. the plain man
| he never would use the term Rev ,, ns
striking n specimen OF the true John Bun as
can be- found I'm "the tight little island TO-
dav. Sturgeon is probably the most truly
modest public man i'm England He stlcksto
| his work. avoids self advertisement, abhors
fuss and adulation. yet he is by universal
consent Of all sectarians and politicians one
81 tho most u0tent social forces I'M the land.
Let MS Glance first at his clerical rise and
progress. He was born in 1884 got the ordi-
nary schooling. and no more, became "con-
/ veftedr at ID, was "a village preacher at 10,
/ was the most senatorial and holly discussed
/ pulpiteer n England when he was 90, 40 -
! his followers laid the foundation stone oil the
| METROPOLITAN tabernacle, which cost slvoV0V'
and from the opening service, M 1901 lal
which / was present., down 20 today, spur
ro.1u has never preached 30 fewer than ou0u,
and his average congregation is over ''v0V
/ he gained notoriety at first by lurd and exc
/ travagant word pictures, but be grew into %
molloyrer and more rational style he soon
SON publfc esteem. not because of but I'D
spite of the sirqiiness of bis creed Tho puDle
! take their man by weight IN the long run
and 10 was Surgeons devotion TO practical,
GOOD work and his common sense pnian-
| fbropv that won him the admiration or the
public 40 large.
| Ills physique is not that Of the ideal mas
off brain and immense energy, for opurseon
/ possesses the latter I'm marvellous degree.
| liz Is short. about five feet six. tat and puily
| hi. checks chang down with fairness, his
/ teeth project enough 20 prevent hs closing
| his lps iu prnouncmg the letter M- which
with him sounds like Y. His forehead looks
| f.,.e- and narrower than &c really is because
! his straight black hair grows low upon L
-r t.. ,., ,.is...l. re.t Ha dresses ms did
..e.bo. in nlain unelerical carb Alto
.t.~ ~. Nm, or., ,.'.tform among other
..,.,. won uo1ld very evcusablv mistake
( .,.,,.-.a,, for "a decent little well TO do grocer
l-. -oD.ls d.,l.r with turn for acting
.f....., f,r ti.. moment he OPENS his mouth
I'D, ...... th. moment be uses his voice
c.. ...',.b 81. ai,ra,. .nen-rou feel the
.......i ...,,, ~ rs clear mellow. bell like
... ,.l ID di.,inot is eyery
.ru.Iln rqve heard most 0f the great
,-..,,. 49, r. .I world and the new.
.,.. ,....... ~ e,nr.aon Ills
.. ,'l......oi. .,isnn .ornd.n. MS lbs
..t. 3D.. l..,it.., ..,,- md fo.fiva fop.
t.II -...t., n ID oval has rhfe. ral
i, ......,.,.., ,.,bt round th. l1idIue
..t. lro, i-on work painted
r. v, ,,,uit no orran An ortan
...o,l.i h. lo.f pm Nh. mi-hty sound of that
CONGREGATION. every individual of which
/ s.o,o. r., fl.nl. that The glory of the service
l...rd. moon his oun lung power As an
/ ...............f l1t. climbed up o. the little
/ .1.i..-. 3.i., ..,i. of the very roof above the
/ ..... ...r.,.. and ..f th. frthe-t distance pos
/ ...is fron tbo preacher Ills platform D.
/ .',,,ri.. "a mart off fhe first gallery projected
.. -. ...,.orf We cam scarcely dis
..,...... tls rre.cher among the crowd of
fo..,,. and DISTINGUISHED etraueere who
.f.l..., and e,en when he steps for
,.,,I q, tine railing for Doe has NOT even
r.,1.r. da-.. l.,.e that of Beochers we cam
/ ,,... ,,o,..rI,. .a The play 90 bis face But
/ fhat r.e.oillus voice sails right up 90 our
...... clearly and beautifully that without
.,.v .ra.r.n- we hear every syllable he
.,..,l. without the least effort, and rarely
/ b.rfs
/ 9.. sermon is only one part of his work II
/ ,s questionable whether a reader of Scripture
/ loelon. .bonid water them down by his own
| ,..t.,.,ois+..I comments Few can DO it with.